Stormwater Management Resources

Northern Virginia residents can do their part to reduce stormwater pollution by implementing best management practices (BMPs) around their homes and communities. BMPs reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces and help to reduce the amount of pollutants, e.g., nutrients, bacteria, and salts, that enter into the environment. BMPs also often provide aesthetic benefits to properties by utilizing native plans and other natural features to absorb water.

See below for resources to learn about and install various stormwater management BMPs around your property:

Permeable Pavers

Conservation Landscaping

Rain Gardens

Rain Barrels

Additional Resources

Rain Gardens: garden spaces that are typically placed in low-lying areas or created as depressions to direct rainwater off of impervious surfaces with a pipe or swale. Rain gardens typically use native plants to most effectively absorb and infiltrate rainwater as it collects in the depression.

Native Plant Guidance

10 Common Rain Garden Plants (Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District)
Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping - Chesapeake Bay Watershed (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
Plant NOVA Natives
Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Grower Guide

Maintenance

Maintaining Stormwater Systems - A Guidebook for Private Owners and Operators in Northern Virginia (Northern Virginia Regional Commission)

General Information

Design and Construction

Rain Garden Design and Construction: A Northern Virginia Homeowner's Guide (Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) and Fairfax County Park Authority's Resource Management Division)
Rain Gardens Technical Guide (Virginia Department of Forestry)
Rain Garden Design Templates (Low Impact Development Center, Inc.)
Web Soil Survey (USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Permeable Pavers: Pavement in a driveway or other area of a property with pervious material that allows water to infiltrate into the ground (as opposed to traditional asphalt/concrete in which water runs off into a nearby storm drain).

General Information

Permeable Pavement Fact Sheet (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
FairFacts - Permeable Pavement (Fairfax County)
Advanced Stormwater Design Webcast Series: Permeable Pavement (Chesapeake Stormwater Network)

Design and Construction

Rain Barrels and Cisterns: A barrel or cistern that is connected to a home’s downspout to collect rainwater and prevent runoff into the yard or nearby storm drain. Installations can come in a range of shapes and sizes and typically include a nozzle to release water when the barrel is filled. Collected water can be slowly released or used for gardening and watering plants.

General Information

Introduction to Rain Barrels (NVSWCD)
A Methodology for using Rainwater Harvesting as a Stormwater Management BMP
Advanced Stormwater Design: Rainwater Harvesting (Chesapeake Stormwater Network)

Design and Construction

Rain Barrel Installation Brochure (City of Alexandria)
Virginia Stormwater Best Management Practice Clearinghouse

Maintenance

Rain Barrel Accessories and Maintenance (City of Alexandria)

Other Resources

Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Workshops

Conservation Landscaping: Replacement of turf grass, bare soil, and/or non-native plants with native plants. As opposed to rain gardens, conservation landscaping can be incorporated anywhere on a property, including garden beds or raised beds.

General Information